Caroling, Seuss and more to bring cheer throughout December

As Thanksgiving week kicks off the holiday season, Windsor vocalists and musicians are practicing their scales and tuning their instruments to prepare for a bevy of music-based events throughout December. So turn off the radio Christmas carols and tune in to the following:
WHS Symphonic Band and String Orchestra’s Winter Concert
Step into the Windsor High School Theater on Dec. 3 to enjoy classical tunes from all over the world, courtesy of ninth through 12th grade students in the WHS Symphonic Band and String Orchestra. The high school’s Jazz Combo will also join in to perform some jazzy holiday music. $5 suggested donation. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.
Town of Windsor Holiday Celebration
Head down to the heart of Windsor for a holiday celebration in the Town Green that includes carriage rides, a craft workshop for children, gingerbread cookie decorating, a tree lighting ceremony and more. Seven hundred students in K-12 will participate in a holiday musical concert on Sparks Stage. Thursday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m.
Windsor High School Chorus and Drama’s “One Elf, Two Elf, Red Elf, Green Elf”
Windsor High School’s choir will team up with the Windsor Jaguar Troupe to present a combined show titled “One Elf, Two Elf, Red Elf, Green Elf.” For the first half of the production, the students will perform a “Seussified” Christmas Carol, which reinvents the classic Christmas tale from Charles Dickens with Seuss-style rhymes. A musical review called “North Polaroid” will follow, which includes appearances from such characters as Santa, Frosty the Snowman and Suzy Snowflake. Tickets ($10 adults, $5 children) go on sale in December. Thursday, Dec. 11 and Friday, Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m.
Brooks Elementary School Chorus Concert
Travel to Brooks Elementary School on Dec. 8 to witness its fourth and fifth grade Grand Chorus perform tunes they have practiced since August. The free event starts at 7 p.m. and takes place at the school’s multipurpose room.
Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove Christmas Carol Sing Along
With the addition of the Raven Theater Windsor on Windsor River Road, the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove now has a venue to conduct a cookie and caroling event that organizers have hoped to bring to town for years. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m.
A thousand cookies will be given away to guests at the event, who can also grab apple cider and join in as professional singer Jennifer Farmer conducts carols. The Christmas Carol Sing Along is free and takes place at the Raven Theater Windsor (195 Windsor River Road).
Windsor Creek Elementary Winter Concert
Second and third graders will join together for a concert at Windsor Creek Elementary’s multipurpose room, which includes a mix of holiday tunes and other fun songs with accompaniment on recorders. Over 500 students in total have been practicing for the free event since October. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 10:45 a.m.
Windsor Middle School Bands’ Winter Concert
Following a strings and chorus event on Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m., bands at Windsor Middle School will hold a winter concert at the school’s gym. The concert will be the first outing for the school’s Beginning Band, which is comprised of 70 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade who started playing their respective instruments in August. About 100 seventh and eighth grade students in the school’s Honor Band will also perform at the concert.
The students plan to play a variety of concert band literature, from overtures and marches to pop songs. While still finalizing the program, confirmed pieces include “The Bermuda Triangle,” “Mojo,” “Silverbrook” and holiday classics such as “O Come Little Children” and “Christmas Time is Here.” Thursday, Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m.